New Delhi: Bastar Pandum, a state-level cultural festival, celebrating unique tribal (Janjati) identity, traditions and folk life, commences in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar division from Saturday, January 10.
The event this year will be organised in three phases with first phase commencing from January 10. Under phase one, programs will be organised at gram Panchayat and Janpad levels across all the seven districts of Bastar division.
District-level and block-level programs will be held from January 24 to January 29 under phase 2, with divisional/state level programmes set to be oragnised from February 2 till the closing ceremony on February 5. Events held under these phases will provide opportunities to Janjatiya artists, craftsman, dancers and folk-singers, residing in remote regions to showcase their talent.
Artists and groups participating in the competition held across various levels will be honoured with prize money and certificates. The state government this year has increased the number of competitive disciplines from 7 to 12.
Earlier, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai launched the official logo and theme song of ‘Bastar Pandum 2026’ at Danteshwari temple in Dantewada district on January 2.
“The true identity of Chhattisgarh lies in its tribal tradition. These traditions are lived and experienced through dance, music, crafts, traditional cuisine, forest-based medicines and sacred village shrines,” said CM Vishnu Deo Sai.
CM Sai on Monday, also extend invitation to President Droupadi Murmu to attend the program as chief guest. Significantly, the inaugural edition of the cultural fest was organised in March-April 2025 with Union Home Minister Amit Shah gracing the closing ceremony.
The festivities this year will witness traditional dance performances from various Janjatiya groups, including Madia, Muria, Gond, Halba and Bhatra. Performances with traditional musical instruments like Mandar, Tiriya, Dhol are likely to attract the audiences further with distinctive costumes and jewelry of the Janjati communities also on display.
The celebrations, lasting for around four weeks will also showcase traditional cuisine, beverages and medicinal foods of the Janjati communities, promoting local food culture and traditional nutritional knowledge.
The event is an unique effort to present the rich Janjatiya culture of Bastar, its lifestyle, folk-art, traditional food, costumes, music, songs and dance traditions on a single platform. The initiative is playing a significant role in connecting youths with their cultural roots alongside boosting the morale of artists to help keep folk arts alive, said the government in a statement issued on Friday.
The ‘Pandum’ meaning ‘Utsav’ (celebration) is truly a vibrant reflection of Bastar’s soul, its cultural consciousness and community life and has become a powerful medium for preserving and promoting Janjatiya heritage passing down from one generation to the other, added the statement.
It noted, the event not only strengthens cultural identity but also boosts tourism and the local economy.
